Swoger Catalog Medals

About This Coin

The Swoger Catalog Medals, named after the comprehensive reference work that catalogs U.S. Mint medal issues, encompass a broad range of official medals produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints with a combined mintage of approximately 6.5 million pieces across all issues. The Swoger catalog serves as the standard reference for organizing and identifying U.S. Mint medals that fall outside other specialized catalog systems, providing collectors and researchers with a systematic framework for this diverse category. A notable auction result of $3,600 in MS66 grade at Stack's Bowers demonstrates that premium examples in superb condition attract competitive bidding despite the generally accessible price range of most Swoger-cataloged medals. The category encompasses medals commemorating a wide range of subjects — historical events, notable Americans, government institutions, and national milestones — produced over more than two centuries of U.S. Mint medal production. The substantial combined mintage figure of 6.5 million reflects the aggregation of numerous individual issues, many of which had modest individual production runs that make specific types scarcer than the aggregate number suggests. Collectors who pursue Swoger Catalog Medals often focus on specific thematic areas — presidential medals, exploration medals, or anniversary issues — rather than attempting comprehensive coverage of the entire catalog. The reference work's systematic organization has made these previously scattered medal issues more accessible to the collecting community.